Cut-off mechanism for machines for making artificial straws.



tion; Fig. 3 is a Tiri.

LEWIS C. MALTBY, OE WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OE COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STONE STEAW COMPANY, OE WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OE COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CUT-OFF MECHANISM EOE MACHINES momes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

EOE MAKING ARTIFICIAL STRAWS.

Patented Dec.. 5, 1213.

Application filed February 12, 1916. Serial No. 78,058.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS C. MALTBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-Off Mechanism for Ma chines for Making Artificial Straws, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the cut-0H mechanism for machines for making artificial straws, and the fundamental feature of this present invention comprises a reciprocating plunger which carries a section of the straw guide` and which also operates and controls the saw-disk, causing the two to reciprocate together; and in con' nection with these features there is a rocking frame which carries the disk cutter shaft, and which is swung positively back and forth to cause the disk Glitter' to cross and re-cross the path of the straw to cut it off into the required predetermined lengths.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away, and the bed or frame of the machine in longitudinal secview in side elevation showing the rocking frame with the other'parts removed, the view being partially in section; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of ig. 2, looking toward the right; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking toward the right; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in section of the upper end of the rocking frame.

A, is the bed or frame of the machine, which is cast in any suitable frm and dimensions for the purpose and mounted on legs (not shown). A housing 1 is mounted on the bed edge and terminates at the forward end in a plunger-guide 2.

Rotatably mounted within the housing on a shaft 3 is the crank-disk 4, and fitted to slide within the cross-head guide 2 is the reciprocating cross-head or plunger 5 which is actuated by connecting-rod 6 extending from the wrist-pin 7 on the crank disk 4 to a point 8 in the cross-head or plunger.

To take up for wear in the cross-head or plunger, the plate 9 is adjustably connected with the plunger or-cross-head through setscrew l0. their adjacent faces inclined, as at 11, so that when the plate 9 is forced inwardly it takes up for wear in the crossheador cross-head guide, as is readily understood.

The shaft 3 has a miter gear 12 on one end, the teeth of which meshwith a miter gear 13 on the countershaft 14, and the countershaft 14 is supported in bearings 15 in the arms 1G bolted or otherwise secured to one side of the bed. This shaft 14 has a large gear-wheel 17 keyed thereto, and the teeth of this wheel engage the teeth of an intermediate gear 18, which is driven by a pinion 19, on the main drive-shaft 20, from which motion is consequently communicated at a greatly reduced speed in this way from the drive-shaft 20 to the countershaft 14, and through it to the shaft 3 and the reciprocating cross-head or plunger 5.

A rocking frame 21 (shown in Fig. 3) is pivoted by bolts 22, 22` at either end to lugs 23, 23. on the side of the housing 1 (as shown in Figs. 4 and 5). and this rocking frame is oscillated through a connecting-rod 24 extending from the eccentric strap 25 to which it is bolted by nuts 2G, 26. rThis eccentric strap is mounted on the eccentric 27 secured on the counter-shaft 14. A shaft 28, is slidably mounted in the collars 29. 29` at the upper end of the rocking frame 2l. and on this shaft the saw-disk 30 is secured.

An arm 31 extends upwardly from the cross-head or plunger 5, and is provided with an elongated slot 32, in the form of an arc. the center of which coincides with the support or center of vibration 22 of the frame 21, and through this slot the shaft 28 which carries the disk cutter 30 extends, (as shown in Figs. 4 and 5) thus admitting of the oscillation of the frame 21 which carries the shaft 28. and the movement of the latter through slot 32. The upper or slotted end of the arm 31 is confined between the hub 33 of the saw-disk and the collar 34 secured on the shaft 28, so that with the reciprocations of the cross-head or plunger the shaft 28 which carries the disk cutter also reciprocates, and with the turning of the eccentric 27 with the rotation of counter-shaft 14, the rocking frame 21 is oscillated to move the disk cutter laterally across and away from the path of the straw.

The straw is fed through stationary and movable straw-guides 35 and 36 respectively,

l plunger from the arm 31 (as shownin Figs. cross-head fitted thereto, a

the former being held on one side of the the shaft is i'eciprocated with the cross-head,

ousing4 1 (as shown in Fig. 1), and the and means for actuating these several parts. latter being carried by an arm 37 projecting 2. The combination of a m out on the opposite side of the cross-head or frame, a cross-head guide formed therein, a 50 plate adjustably 4 and 5).

The shaft 28 is rotated by a belt (not tween one side of theguide and the crossshown) passed over the pulley 40, which pulhead for taking up the wear of the crossey 1s secured to the rotary bearings 41 head, arms extending in opposite directions 55 which turn in the left-hand collar 29 on the from the cross-head, one carrying a straw frame 21 (as shown in Figs. 2 and 6). guide and the other a slotted arm, a rock- To briefly recapitulate, with the driving ing frame and shaft slidably mounted in said of the countershaft 14 from the main shaft frame and carrying a disk cutter, said shaft 20, through the gear-Wheels 19, 18, and 17, passed through the slot of the arm with the 60 the shaft 3 is rotated through miter-gears dlsk cutter adjacent thereto` a collar secured 13, and 12, thus causing the cross-head or on the shaft on the other side of the slotted plunger 5 to reciprocate in the plungerarm, means for reciprocating the cross-head, guide 2; and with it the rotating shaft 28 straw Guide and slidable shaft, and means which carries the disk cutter 30 in the rockfor roc :ing the rocking frame with the slid- 65 ling-frame 21, which latter oscillates but lng shaft and disk cutter.

oes not reciprocate; -and also the movable 3. The combination with a machine-bed straw-guide section 36; and at the same or frame, a rocking frame -pivotally contime, through the rotation of the counternected therewith, a reciprocating plunger or shaft 14 and eccentric 27 thereon, the rock- Cross-head, a main drive-shaft, a counter- 70 lng frame 21, which carries the sliding roshaft driven thereby, said countershaft tary disk cutter shaft 28, is oscillated once having a miter gear and an eccentric uring each revolution of the countershaft, thereon, a cross-shaft having a miter gear latter, cut it, and immediately recede from the crank-disk to the plunger or cross-head its` path. I an eccentric strap around the eccentric and I claim: connecting-rod extending therefrom to the l. The combination of a machine-bed or rocking-frame, two arms extending from the 80 frame, a reciprocating cross-head having cross-head or plunger, one having an elonarms which extend in opposite directions gated slot, and the other carrying astraW through slots in the frame, one arin carrying guide, and a shaft rotatably and slidably a straw guide and the other arm extending supported by the rocking frame and extendi upward having a horizontally disposed ing through the slot in the slotted arm on 85 elongated slot, a rocking frame, and a disk t ie plunger or cross-head, said shaft carrycutter shaft slidably mounted in said frame ing a disk cutter which is adapted to travel and extending through the elongated slot of with and cross the path of the straw to be the arm on the cross-head, said slidable shaft cut.

having a disk cutter secured thereon o'n one In testimony whereof I aiix my signature. 90 side of said arm, a collar secured on the shaft, on the other side of the arm, whereby LEWIS C. MALTBY. 

